Winchell



-April 14, 1964 P. WINCHELL 3,129,001

INVERTED NOVELTY MASK Filed May 22, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. F'AU L WI NCHE LL 1 17.5. v I" 4 BY A ril 14, 1964 P. WINCHELL 3,129,001

INVERTED NOVELTY MASK Filed May 22, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. PAUL WI NCHEILL United States Patent 3,129,001 INVERTED NQVELTY MASK Paul Winchell, 9-55 166th St, Whitestone, N.Y. Filed May 22, 1961, Ser. No. 111,656 3 Claims. (Cl. 272-8) This invention relates generally to children's toys and more particularly to a masking device adapted to be worn by a child.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a masking device in the form of a human dummy to be worn on the head by a child, upside down for amusement, mirth and entertainment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a masking device in the form of a human dummy, that is worn in inverted condition and that permits exposure of a portion of the face of the wearer-that lends itself to caricature work.

A further object of the invention is to provide a masking device in the form of a human dummy that is worn in inverted condition upon the head and that permits exposure of a portion of the face of the wearer that lends itself to caricature Work and that is provided with ready means for fastening onto the-head of the wearer.

A specific object of the invention is to provide a dummy masking device that is adapted to be 'worn in inverted condition and a mirror assembly of such construction that it reflects the dummy masking device in right side up condition.

For further comprehension of the invention and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a masking device embodying my invention, the masking device being shown applied to a childs head.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the masking device removed from the childs head, and shown in upside down condition.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a mirror assembly used with the masking device, showing in dot-dash lines the reflections of the masking device as seen therethrough.

Referring in detail to the drawings, in FIG. 1 a masking device made in accordance with my invention is shown and designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The masking device is in the form of a dummy 12 having an elongated concaved shell body 14 of plastic material or other suitable material, semi-circular in cross-section, shaped to simulate a portion of the human body, with surface markings and characteristics to simulate clothing worn by a human being. The body 14 is hollow and is shaped to simulate the front of a human torso 16, legs 18, feet 20, and arms 22. The sides of the torso portion 16 are formed with elongated indentations 23 at the location of the arms 22. The torso, arms and legs are marked on the surface thereof to simulate coverings in the form of articles of clothing such as a jacket 24, vest 26, and trousers 28, respectively. The feet 20 are marked to simulate shoes 3tl. The jacket 24 is marked with portions simulating lapels 32 having holes 34 therein simulating human eye openings. Between the lapels 32, the top of the vest 26 is bulged outwardly simulating a human nose 36 with a nostril opening 37. A broad elastic band 38 extends across the hollow space of the body at a point 3,129,001 Patented Apr. 14, 19 4 above the center of the torso 16 and has its ends fastened to the edges of the body by adhesive or in any other suitable manner.

The masking device 10 is in the form of a human dummy and can only be worn on the head in inverted condition by the child as shown in FIG. 1. By turning the dummy 1t) upside down and stretching the elastic band 38, the body of the dummy can readily be slipped over the head of'the child with the arm indentations 23 over the ears of the child, the sides of the torso portion of the body pressing slightly against the sides of the head, and the'nose portion 36 resting on the nose of the child. When the dummy is in this position, the band is around the head of the child, the eye openings 34 inthe lapels 32are in line with the eyes of the child and the curved end of the body of the dummy is positioned above the mouth 39 of the child, leaving the chin 40 of the child exposed. The dummy is thus firmly supported in inverted upright position with its feet extending straight upwardly forming an extension of the head of the child as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In order toadd to the monstrosity, grotesqueness and gaiety of the situation or representation, a pair of makebelieve eyes 42 in inverted condition and a small circle 44 representing a nose may be painted or otherwise placed on the exposed chin 40 of the child. Accordingly, when the masking device is worn on the head of a child, the legs 18, feet 20, tors'o 16, and arms 22 of the dummy are upside down. The mouth of the child is exposed but the make-believe nose 44 is below the mouth, and the representations of the make-believe eyes 42 are below the mouth in inverted condition as seen in FIG. 1. The childs eyes are in line with the eye openings 34 in the lapels 32 to permit the child to look through the masking device.

Furthermore, in order to add to the gaiety and amusement of the situation, a mirror assembly 48 may be used with the masking device 10 and held in the hand of the wearer. The mirror assembly 48 as shown in FIG. 6 comprises a pair of rectangular-shaped fiat mirrors 50 and 52 preferably formed of suitable metal with mirrored surfaces.

The mirrors are placed end to end and hingedly secured together by hinges 54. A pair of rods 56 are pivotally secured at one end to the side edges of the mirror 50 and are adapted to hang loosely therefrom. A pair of rack bars 58 with teeth 60 on the upper surfaces thereof are secured to the other mirror 52 along the sides thereof in line with the rods 56 so that the free ends of the rods are adapted to engage the teeth and hold the mirrors in spaced adjusted position as shown in FIG. 6.

The mirrors when held in the hand of the child wearing the masking device can be viewed through the eye openings 34 in the lapels 32 and when the mirror 50 is disposed at an angle to the mirror 52 for example, when the mirror 50 is vertically disposed and the mirror 52 horizontally disposed, as shown in FIG. 6, the dummy will appear and be seen in the vertical mirror 50 in upside down condition as indicated at 62, and this will be reflected onto the horizontal mirror 52 and the dummy will also appear and be seen in mirror 52 in the right side up condition as indicated at 64.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent 1. A masking device in the form of a dummy of a human being, said device having a hollow shell body in the shape of a fragment of the front of a human body including a torso, arms and legs of the human body, said shell body semi-circular in cross-section and adapted to fit over the head of a wearer of the device, said shell body having a protuberance in simulation of the human nose, and having a pair of spaced openings in simulation of human eyes, the outer surface of the torso and arms having markings simulating a jacket with lapels and a vest, the outer surfaces of the legs having markings simulating trousers, said nose simulating protuberance disposed between said lapels, said eye simulating openings disposed in said lapels, and an elastic band adjacent one end of the body for holding the shell body on the head of the wearer in upside down condition.

2. A masking device in the form of a dummy of a human being, said device having a hollow shell body in the shape of a fragment of the front of a human body including a torso, arms and legs of the human body, said shell body semi-circular in cross-section and adapted to fit over the head of a wearer of the device, said shell body having a protuberance in simulation of the human nose, and having a pair of spaced openings in simulation of human eyes, the outer surface of the torso and arms having markings simulating a jacket with lapels and a vest, the outer surfaces of the legs having markings simulating trousers, said nose simulating protuberance disposed between said lapels, said eye simulating openings disposed in said lapels, and elastic means for holding the shell body on the head of the wearer in upside down condition, the torso end of the shell body having an inwardly curved end edge providing a clearance for exposing the chin and 4 mouth of the wearer, the exposed chin lending itself to any desired markings.

3. A masking device in the form of a dummy of a human being, said device havirig a hollow shell body in the shape of a fragment of the front of a human body including a torso, arms and legs of the human body, said shell body semi-circular in cross-section and adapted to fit over the head of a wearer of the device, said shell body having a protuberance in simulation of the human nose, and having a pair of spaced openings in simulation of human eyes, the outer surface of the torso and arms having markings simulating a jacket with lapels and a vest, the outer surfaces of the legs having markings simulating trousers, said nose simulating protuberance disposed between said lapels, said eye simulating openings disposed in said lapels, and an elastic band adjacent one end of the body for holding the shell body on the head of the wearer in upside down condition, the construction of the shell body being such that when viewed in a mirror having two rectangular shaped sections hingedly connected in end to end relationship and adapted to be held in angular relation to each other, the masking device is mirrored in one section in right side up condition and in the other section in upside down condition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,021,593 Einson Nov. 19, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS 345,014 Germany Dec. 3, 1921 

1. A MASKING DEVICE IN THE FORM OF A DUMMY OF A HUMAN BEING, SAID DEVICE HAVING A HOLLOW SHELL BODY IN THE SHAPE OF A FRAGMENT OF THE FRONT OF A HUMAN BODY INCLUDING A TORSO, ARMS AND LEGS OF THE HUMAN BODY, SAID SHELL BODY SEMI-CIRCULAR IN CROSS-SECTION AND ADAPTED TO FIT OVER THE HEAD OF A WEARER OF THE DEVICE, SAID SHELL BODY HAVING A PROTUBERANCE IN SIMULATION OF THE HUMAN NOSE, AND HAVING A PAIR OF SPACED OPENINGS IN SIMULATION OF HUMAN EYES, THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE TORSO AND ARMS HAVING MARKINGS SIMULATING A JACKET WITH LAPELS AND A VEST, THE OUTER SURFACES OF THE LEGS HAVING MARKINGS SIMULATING TROUSERS, SAID NOSE SIMULATING PROTUBERANCE DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID LAPELS, SAID EYE SIMULATING OPENINGS DISPOSED IN SAID LAPELS, AND AN ELASTIC BAND ADJACENT ONE END OF THE BODY FOR HOLDING THE SHELL BODY ON THE HEAD OF THE WEARER IN UPSIDE DOWN CONDITION. 